Tractor attachment for trucks



Jan. 24, 1933. G. l. woRLEY 1,895,241

TRACTOR ATTACHMENT FOR TRUCKS original Filed Nav. 29, 1926 s sheets-sheet 1 saw 4 4 I N VEN TOR.

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Jan. 24, 1933. G. l. woRLEY TRACTOR ATTACHMENT FOR TRUCKS Original Filed Nov. 29, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 2o/eef I 144mg): 57 gg( TBM/ww ATTORNEYS.

5.V woRLEY TRAcToR ATTACHMENT FOR TRUCKS Orgna YS.

Jan. 2'4, 1933.

hmVll W T ATTORNEYS.

5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR @fo/PQE I. Wam-x 1 Filed Nov. 29, 1926 Patented Jan. 24, 1933 l n UNITED STATES GEORGE I. WORIQEIOF AKRON, oH1o,.AssI NoR To THE MCNEILBCILEZR CoM'PANY, f

or AKRON, oHIo, A CORPORATION or# omo i TRACTOR ATTACHMENT Foa TRUCKSy VApplication med November ze, 1926, serien No. 151,285.. Renewed February 5, 1931;

This invention relates to tractor attach- "ments for trucks or lother vehicles to adapt them for heavy hauling under all sortsofroad conditions. In construction work of all kinds 5 where excavating or lling is being done,'the

usual forms of wheeled trucks do not operate satisfactorily due to the character of the surfaces over which they are required torun.

F or example, in excavating for roads,the

trucks to haul the dirt from the steam shovels are required to go over the ground which has been excavated and'to travel over fields, soft ground, and allkinds and conditions of soilfand to climb embankments and hills, and to operate in all weathers andthrough mud and hogs. The ordinary wheeled truck, such as universally used atthe present time, cannot negotiate the roads satisfactorily and are very inefficient. v V 1 The purpose of the present invention is to devise a formof tractorattachment for trucks which can be used in place of the wheels and which will operate more efficiently, going v over ground in which a wheeled truck cannot travel.

YAn important object of the present invention is to provide ai more eflicient and greatly simplified attachmentl of the abovetype which is accomplished as will be explained by employing a front-wheel drive tractor instead of the rear-wheel drive devices heretofore employed.

Another object isto provide an improved mounting for the vehicle on the tractor whereby greater flexibility will be secured, enabling the tractor to ride over very uneven surfaces with a maximum of traction thereon and without sacrificing any propelling force thereof.' Y Y Another object of the invention is to provide anfimproved tire for such tractors.

The device shown herein has been used uni der the most diiiicult circumstances and has been able to carry heavy loads over roads and through locations which are impassable for wheeled vehicles, and it will be understood that while only one form of the invention is shown and described, other forms may be devised, departing therefrom but Still embody- FigurelO is an enlarged, transverse section ing the herein. i .t

Of the accompanying drawings, Y, Figure l is a sidefelevation of an attachnient embodying the invention; Figure-Qis a'plan thereof;` f 1 n "Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 ofk Fig-` urelym 1 Figure t is a .section on line 4 4 ofFigure2; f1 .1 Figure 5 is a plan of that part of the device shown in Figure 4;

i Figure Gis a section on ure 2; y Y -1 c .Figure 7 is-anfenlarg'ed section through the line 6--6 `of\ Fig-V ;tire shown in the 'above figures; f

principles of thefinvention as set forth Figure 8 is a side elevation illustrating i another form of-tire; n

-1 Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 ofFigure i i f i ,70

8; and

of the-tire shownin Figures 8 and'9.

of the truck body is shown by the parallel beams l and the cross members 2. The drive shaftis shown at 3, the differential being indicated at tand' the usual axle at 5 and the Referring tothe drawings, theframework brakel dr-ums atv 6, all 'of which are standard f,

construction and are notaltered or fmodified by the attachment of the tractor member:

The tractor attachment comprises two pairs of wheels, each pair comprisinga front Wheelv 7 and a rear wheel`8 over which runs a flexible, elastic tractor belt or tire 9 which runs'up'on the ground and supports and drives the truck. The front wheels 7 are driven, while the rear In this construction the front wheels operate idle: l l

.The outer peripheries lof vthe wheels are formed with grooves, the walls yofwhich converge toward thecentral plane of the Wheel so as to receive the traction lbelt lor tire -9 `which is VVconstructed in cross-section substantially triangular, the apex of thetriangle being toward the center` ofthel wheelor upon the upper side ofthat portion of the tire which rests'upon the ground. The apex ofth'etire awheels, in theV construction shown are free to rotate upon the rear of a non-driven axle 1Q.

'fthese elements". .Y

is indicated at 24 andthe ground contactingy Weak areamay be found therein. The belt 9 preferably has incorporated therein iiexible, strain-resisting, reinforcing membersxcompising rubberized textile mater-iah,AV either fabric or cords, providing cablesa', 9a so that the `beltl will be capableof long and hard usage. y Y The triangular construction not only givesV better frictional engagement With the grooved surfaces of the Wheels, 'but alsoserves the highlyV advantageous" function of vshedding dirt or sand QWhioh would accumulate upon the'surface of a flatbelt and be compacted and built-up betweensthe wheels and ,thebelt This important advantagek is further enhanced by forming aseries of aperturesor openings 30 in the side flanges of the Wheels: through which the dirt and sand is discharged. It Will also be observed that upon -the compression of the belt, the-rubber Will project into the apertures inthe Wheels, thereby causing interlocking betvveen thebelt and the Wheels and preventing slippage betweenA The front -Wheels are: mounted 'directly Y uponthe rear axle 5 of the truckj andthe rear Wheels upon the vnon-driven or ,auxiliary` axle :10.v fThis se'condaryaxle lO-is composed of members 31 which vare clamped togetheras indicated at 32. The members 31 of .the nondriven axle are each formed With an enlarged circular bearingin Which is received a split sleeve 37 rotatable `with respect to the bearing f 1,36, the sleeve being' cored out to provide a 'spherical-bearing 38 in'Whichv is jslidably received the sub-member 39 which supports the truck body.

f ffThes'ub-memberBQ on each side of themachine extends from the rear of the non-driven ,axle to a pointvadjacentthe front axle. At

.the front end of sub-'member is pivotally connected to a link 40 on oneside of the machine as at 4Oi'andv on the other side is fixedly connected theretoas indicated at 40. Eachlink is connected by the universal'joint 41 to the'- fbracket 42 which is. attachedfto the bodyY l.

The, link 40A serves as the driving member which propels the truck forward, receiving the thrust of the 'propelling' mechanism throughthe sub-member. The sub-member fis fastened at its front end Within a socket v:43 formed Within the upper half 44 of a twopart yoke, the Vvother half of which isdesig- Y ynatedas V45. The yoke 44-45 is vpivotally mounted uponthe front :axle 5 lbetween"'an kouter collar 46 landan inner collar 47; 'TheV :jointedconstruction of the sub-member and the link 4 on one side and the pivotal.k and rotative connections at the Vends permits great freedom of movement forl the front Wheel so that the Whole structure can rock about the front axle in going over irregularities inthe ysurface of the ground, andthe Yball, and socket ybearings'for the rear axle 'permit of relative vmovement of the tractorv Wheels atv -either side ofthe tr'uck,and the'svviveledconnection 41 permits lof twisting 'movement'of the tractor unit.

It Will ,be observed that each en'd'of non-driven axle'is slidably mounted upon 4, the sub-member,this yconstruction being forV the purpose of permitting a rear'vvheel to be drawn toward the front AWheel by the tractorbelt,.a provision which is necessary because of the, deflection ofthe y'belt .upwardly `between the Wheels, as in passingoveral rock ori other vabrfuqgt projection in the ground. The lWheels are held apart by meanslof aheav-y coil spring' 50 surrounding ,the sub-memberv and lbearing aga-inst lthe rear aXle. :The-other end ofthe spring-'is confinedv by across plate l51 carriedl entire-forward ends o-frods53locatedon -either rside of the sub-member `and slidablyl the received in the rear axle;V The rear ends'of the rods 53 are rigidly connected' tov theV end of the sub-member by means `of a second plate' 51'a and nut-S1152. The spring50 keeps /the'i Y.traction band -undera certain degree oftension and also permits .ofl shortening of its effective length under deectionv.-

f Y The truck is carried upon'springsff55, the

shackles 56 of which are fastened inrecesses 57 on brackets 58 attached: to the frame so thatthe location of the springs relative tothe body can .be adjusted." The springs are pivotally supported'fatfa upon sleeves 59 which. are slidably'mounted upon the sub-member,"

ica Y thearrangement permitting v.the adjustment of the body upon the traction devicerelative-l j ly` to shift theload to the most advantageous position upon the sub-member, j

The yrollingtorque, Which tends to Vturn the Wholedeviceupon the front axle,v is prevented by the iixed connection at '4QF-,Which resists therolling torquepand'yet permits iiexibility of the Whole structure of the tractor member.

In FiguresS, 9

periphery, whereby itwill easily-flex Vabout the Wheels in frictional engagement therewith. In addition the figures -illustratea different form of reinforcement 9d comprising and lO'the tired-9v. issho'vvn provided with notches 9., 9c on its innerV ico a. flexible chain embedded in therubber tire.

n The apparatus herein shown and described is valuable for contractors vvho are required to haulthrough diiiicult roads and overuneven and slippery ground. .The'claims are entitled toa full range of equivalents to cover modifications and vchanges Within the scope o f the invention. l

This-application is a continuationv of the 4subject matter of my priorl applications Serial No. 602,165, ffiled November-'20, 1922,. ,andSerial No. 33,438, filed May28,1925, in

so far as the general Adesign and arrangement of the tractor attachmentis concerned,g,and

such patentable subject matter as is common j to the earlier applications andthe present application. y.

What is claimed is: V- 3 l. In a tractor device for trucks or the like, front and rear wheels constituting 1a pair on either side of the truck, a sub-member, means for supporting said sub-member, upon each pair lof wheels, a truck body support nornialf` ly slidably vcarried upon each "sub-member between the wheels, means providing apivot- 4al connection from vthe subsmember tothe'` truckbody on one side of the truck, a tractor belt overfthe wheels, and' a torque preventing member connecting the `truck :body andthe sub-memberon the other `side of the truck. A

2." In a tractor device for attachment to tracks, thecombinationwith the truck body f of a driven front axle, a non-driven rea-r axle,

wheels upon the axles arranged in pairs on either side of thetruck, a flexibletrac'tor nbelt .over the'wheels of a pair, and flexible sub-r members on either side of the device having rocking support up on the -f-rontaxle and slid ing and rocking supportupon the rear axle. 3. A tractor devicefortrucksorthe like comprising a sub-ramebene'ath the truck,-A supports `for the truck body located midway? of the sub-frame,l a pair ofawheels on eachside of the sub-frame, the forward wheels vbe ing driving wheels, one-wheel of each `pairV being fixed in. its position on the sub-frame,

the other Vwheels being movable on thesubframe, spring means normally tending to hold said wheels apart, and aexible belt running over said wheels, the beltlbeing freeto flex upwardly betweenthe wheels. l

4. A tractor device for trucks or the "like .comprising a sub-frame beneath the truck,l .c supports for. theftruckjbody located midway of the `sub-frame, a pairfof'wheelsfon each., side of thesub-frame, `thefforward wheels being driving wheelsfonewheel of each pair f being fixed inits position on the sub-frame, the other wheels-being movable on thesubframe, spring means normally tendin to hold said wheels apart, and an endlessr'u ber belt running over said wheels, the belt being free to flex upwardly between the wheels, f

. 5. A tractor device forftrucks or the likecomprising. a sub-frame beneath'thetruck, said frame having two parallel side members capable of independent movement, atruck body support on the sub-frame, a front driv? ing axle for the truck mounted .injthegs'ide members, wheels on' Y the' ends Y of.- the 'drive shaft, a secondary axle extending .transverse-` ly of and slidably received yon the sub-frame, spring means for yieldingly separating 4the axles, wheels onthe ends ofthe secondary the approach ofthe Iwheels.

GafA-tractor devicefor trucks-ofthe lilie `'axle, and a'flexible, endless belt trained-over 4a wheel onthedriving axle-j and the secondary axle, thev beltbeing permitted 'to 'lex upwardly betweenv the wheels; in conjunctionwith ,l

comprising* a sub-.frame-beneath the truck, i

said frame having two parallel side members` capable `ot independent movement,V a @truck body. supporton the subframe, a front driving'axle for the truckmounted, in; thegside shaft, a secondary axle exten'dingtransverse iy of andslidablyvreceived on the sub-frame,

spring means foryieldingly separating the axles,I wheels on" thegenfds'y of` the Vsecondar the secondary axle,-the belt` being permitted toflexu-pwardly between the Wheels, in conjunctionw-ith the approach `of the 'Wheels` springs forcinglsaid 'axles apart, but permitting approach `thereof #along either? .sub- `r member, wheels on theendsfof said axles, and

flexibleV tractor belts over the wheels. y

trucks, the combination with aftruck body,

of a front driving axle and arear axle, a sub-member below `the truckv body pivoted at onev end upon the driving axleand adapted members, 'wheels'on theends'of the -drive p axle', and a flexible, continuous, rubber i be tl trainedjove'r a wheel oni the drivingaxle and 8. Ina' tractor device for-attachment `to to extend throughand slidably-i-si'lpport.the secondary axle, a vsupport fory the truck body y slidably carried v` uponl the sub1-member, 'af thrust member' connected-,tothe truck body andthe front'driving axle,"an d Wheels carried upon the axles.

' 9,1111 atractor device, aiftruckfbodga l driving axle and housing, asecondary'axle, v sub-members pivotally `:connected tog said fl driving axle and extendingslidablythrough f said secondary .axle,zyielding mealns,positioning said secondary axleon saidsub-members, Y

means connecting said sub-members to said truck body, anda pair' of. thrust members universally pivoted to .said truckbody, one# of `said thrust members; being] pivotallyV connected to saiddriving axleghousing andthe lother being rigidly connected.. 4 i 4 g c 10.` Inatractordevice foruattachmentto trucks', the combinationgwitha truck body, oi`

a; frontsdriving axle, `a*v pair" of rearwardly extending subgmembers below the truck body pivoted atI one end `upon .thefrQnt' driving axle, a rear axle slidably andtilt'ably.supl

. '.portedon'said sub-membersfandfafjpar of' 'thrust' members pivotallyconnectedfat :one

, end to the truck -body and secu-red ati-'the vother to the lfront axle, driven ,wheelsv carried upon the front axle, and'additionalwheelsgcarried Y .upon ftherear axle, andiraaflexible tractor belt l Vover the wheels'upon each side of thetractor.v

fill. Inatr'actor device @fori attachment' to ltrucks,the combination with a truclrbody, of .a front driving' 4'axle' andA asecondary rear axle, a-,pair of sub-members below thev truck body pivoted atoneendupon the front driv.-

L fing `axle Vand Vextending. rearwardly.v therelfrom, a universalfthrustconnection pivoted x at one V'end to the truck body andfsecured at V'the'other to the driving axle., driven Wheels A' i on the driving axle, the secondary axle being y*slidablyand tiltablycarried` upon'thesub# l members,-wheels carried! upon vthe Vsecfon'dary axle, and flexible'tractorfbelts-fover the'wheels on either'side of thefdevice.

y 4312. Ati-'actor ydevicelgfor truclrsi'or the like, comprising. two pairsof wheels oneach-sidey fovfthe device, lthe .forward .wheels being driv-V 'inglwhjeels, a sub1-frame connected toeach pair 'ofl'fwh'eel's, a spring Vsupport for the vehicle, 'meansslidably carried onthesubiframe behv tween' the Wheelsfor pivotally :connecting tween the-wheels." f

v:said sub-framek to 'saidMk springv support, a flexible traction: band trained over the wheels,

and a spring to lseparate thewheels. whereby f the' traction beltis maintained-'under tension' andVA rto permitthe wheels to ,ap'proach each otherwhen V' they belt is flexed' upwardly be?.y

Y L13. .In a :combination with a truck frame, a tractor unitv comprising apair of'substan# tially parallelfaxles, wheels journaled at 'the ends thereof,rspa ced sub-membersconnecting said `axles`,.sleeves'adapted to slide `ony said Vsub-members, .said sleeves ybeing jpivota'lly 1 connected yto the frameofthe truck.

' 141-5] In f combination with. a --truck frame, a

I tractor unitff'cornprising'a pairiofparallel fspa'ced' sub-members connecting said axles",

Y'sleeves adapted torslide on'` said sub-members, f y"said fsleevesl beingv pi'v'otallyv connected ,tothe axles, :wheels journaled yat; the Vends thereof,

iframe ofthetruck, and links pivotally con- Lnecting oneend 'of the subimembers-'to the Y 5,15. In combination'with.atruckframe, a :t1-actor. unit `comprisingia pairof substani `tiallyparallel axles, wheelsjournaled at the ends thereof, spaced sub-members connecting'y Y said axles,jone ofr said axles .being 'slidably carried on said sub-members andyielding;v means positioning said 'slidable axle'k on said f sub-members whereby-.said axles," may have frelativeV movement toward and from-'- each other, sleeves adapted `to slideon lsaid submembers, .said 'sleevesbeing pivotally .connectedto they frame of the trucl,'and'l1nls sleeves adapted tos'li'defon said s'ubmembers,

said-sleeves Vbeing piv'otallyfconnected tothe frame otheltruclr through 'resilient means,V l and 'links pivotally 'connecting one submembers to the frame. f

r17.- In a truck attachment;asubframe beneath the truckbodysaid sub-frame comprsing two parallel vsubemembers, ka `driving axle about -which the sub-membersmayrof.

tate, la' secondary axle, bearings lfor, the submember on the'secondary axle, saidbearings end'of the i.. i i ai@ ypermitting rotation of'the secondary axle in a Lplane transverse' to.. eachasub-member, '-wheels on said axles, and endless,.l-.lexible tractor beltsover-thefwheels;VP '18.'. In1atrii`c1k attachment,"a `sub-frame be-l` tIieathftvhe truck body, said sub-frame com- `prising two *parallel sub-members, a driv- Aingaxle' aboutwhich the sub-members 'may rotate, a secondary axle, sliding bearings -for supporting vthe 'sub-memberslon the second-.y

ary' axle, said bearings ,permitting rotationy f Y vrof thev axle' iny al; plane transverse tof-the' subinem-bers, springs to yeldingly'separate ,the j axles, wheels on fthe) axles, and exible ybelts over-the wheels;` f .y i

19. In a truck attachment, a sub-frameibe- ,A neath the truck body, said `sub-frame comprising two parallel sub-members, a primary u i 4axle about which the submembersmay ros tate, a 'secondary axle, shiftable` bearings for I the Vsub-member on the secondary axle, said shiftable bearings `permitting ythe-'secondary f Vaxle to tilt with respect to lthe-primary axle and approachy or recede therefrom, yielding v means normally V-urging' thev secondary axle" "away from the primary axle, wheels; on thek axles, and flexibler-belts over the wheels. 20; fIn a truck attachment,asubiramebe-V neath the 'truck body',s'aid sub-framel comprising two parallel sub-members, a primary axle ab'outwhich thel sub-'members mayro-v i tate, av secondary axle, bearings for the sub#- member von the secondary axle, saidbearings permitting the". secondary' Yaxle to tilt lwith respect to the primary axle and to assume an angulary position'vvith respect thereto, wheels u f andspringsto forceV saidaxle`s apart."y

V-jon-th'e'-axles, flexible belts over the wheels, Y

" 2l; y In a truck attachment, a vsub-'frame be#y "'neaththev truck body," said' sub-:trarne4 com prising two parallelsnb-members, a primary axle. about vwhich the submembers may roi tate, a ysecondaryaxle, and bearings i forthe -submembe'rs on' thel secondary axle, said *bearings permitting '.'tliel secondary'axle to .tilt with respect to the primary axle and with respect to each sub-member.

22. In a truck attachment, a sub-frame beneath the truck body, said sub-frame comprising two parallel sub-members, front and rear axles connected With the sub-members, the connections between one of the axles and sub-members permitting rotation of the said axle relative to each sub-member in a plane transverse to the sub-members, Wheels 0n said axles, and endless, flexible tractor belts over the Wheels.

GEORGE I. WORLEY. 

